Publication:

Influence of socio-demographic and socio-economic factors on the uptake of cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive women receiving care at the Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital

Background Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide caused by the persistent infection with carcinogenic HPV, transmitted via sexual contact. Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women in the reproductive age. The impact of cervical cancer is exacerbated among women living with HIV, as they face an elevated risk compared to women who are HIV negative. Given the ramification of late diagnosis and the advantages of early detection via screening for HIV positive women, this study aimed at evaluating the Socio-demographic and socio-economic determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake among women living with HIV.

Methods Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the study collected primary quantitative data from 218 HIV positive women aged 18 to 49 years, systematically sampled from the comprehensive care center at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital. Data was analyzed using the R statistical environment to elucidate patterns of screening behavior.

Results The results showed that women aged ≥30 years and above were more likely to undergo cervical cancer screening compared to those under 30 years of age. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 6.77 (95% CI 2.20-22.4), with a p-value of 0.0010, indicating a strong, statistical association between age and uptake.

Conclusion This study suggests that age plays a pivotal role in the uptake of cervical cancer screening, with older women being more likely to participate in screening than younger women emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to increase awareness and participation among younger women.